The blog of the radio announcer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Extras Again

The top of the eleventh came out of nowhere. There were two outs and none on base. Then, there were three walks, a single, a triple, a run scoring wild pitch, another walk and a single.

Looking at the play live, I thought Tyrone Taylor was safe. Looking at the Slo-Mo Replay on the Time Warner Cable SportsChannel broadcast, the you can see the throw beat Taylor. You also see Taylor slide into the foot of catcher Jobduan Morales as he is being tagged. I can see HOW the play was called the way that it was. And judging by the lack of an argument, the Rattlers can understand it, too.

Taylor used his speed to score a run in the first inning for the Rattlers. He singled and stole second. Then, a deep fly ball to the track in left was caught by the Bandits outfielder. But, Taylor saw that the left-fielder was back-pedaling as he caught the ball. Taylor tagged and went to third. He scored on the grounder by Haniger for a 1-0 lead.

Yeah! I want to be an official scorer! That’s an easy job that let’s me watch baseball!

It’s been awhile since I have quoted the rule book on the blog. So, here we go:

6.08 (c): …If a play follows the interference, the manager of the offense may advise the plate umpire that he elects to decline the interference penalty and accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, the play proceeds without reference to the interference.

6.08 (c) comment: If catcher’s interference is called with a play in progress the umpire will allow the play to continue because the manager may elect to take the play.

Here’s how I wrote up the play that put Quad Cities up 2-1 in the top of the sixth in the game story:

An odd sequence gave the River Bandits the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Austin Elkins reached on a single and took second on a passed ball. A ground out allowed Elkins to take third base. Terrell Joyce was at the plate and that’s when the weirdness started. Joyce swung at a pitch and made contact with the glove of catcher Clint Coulter. The ball trickled to the mound and Elkins broke for the plate. He beat the throw to score the run as Joyce eventually made it to first ahead of the throw.

The River Bandits turned down the catcher’s interference call on Coulter and took the result of the play, a fielder’s choice to let the run score and put them ahead 2-1.

I wish we had put that play on the highlights so you could see the unfolding train wreck.

Elkins broke for the plate on the play. But, Joyce was still standing near the plate as Brent Suter flipped the ball to Coulter. The Rattlers had a few words on the close play at the plate and that was when Joyce decided that he should run…BUT WAIT!!! I have a photo of the moment just before Elkins scored:

Do you SEE!?!? Do you SEE NOW??

Joyce reached safely and here’s where the confusion set in for me and most in attendance.

The River Bandits had the choice of taking the catcher’s interference or the result of the play. If they took catcher’s interference, there would have been runners at the corners with one out. They took the result of the play and that the Bandits the lead and Joyce an RBI on the play.

The thing of it is after the game, it sounds like the River Bandits were wondering why Joyce was charged with an at bat on that play. No. Seriously. They thought they could get the Catcher’s Interference AND the result of the play. DUDES! Come on!

But, by re-reading the rule again, the choice of taking the play or not taking the play should not have happened because…However, if the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, the play proceeds without reference to the interference.

I would have made a terrible lawyer.

If you did not enjoy the matchups between Quad Cities Pitcher Lance McCullers, the #41 pick in the 2012 draft, and the top four Rattlers batters in the sixth inning, I don’t know if you will ever enjoy minor league baseball. McCullers, the #4 prospect in the Astros organization was rushing the ball up there in the high 90’s and: Walked Tyrone Taylor (#92 pick in 2012 draft & #15 prospect in Milwaukee’s organization); got Orlando Arcia (Brewers #17 prospect) to ground out to second, and got Mitch Haniger (#38 pick in 2012 & Milwaukee’s #10 prospect) on a fly ball to right. Then Victor Roache, the #28 pick in the 2012 draft and Milwaukee’s #7 prospect, lined a double off the base of the wall 400′ from home plate. THAT is minor league baseball.

Timber Rattlers Highlights:

A few photos:

Brent Suter struck out seven in six innings. That is one K shy of his single game high as a pro.

Victor Roache drills an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.

Sleep fast, Rattlers fans! As of this post there is another game in less than 13 hours!

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